Surgical instrument for plastic surgery

ABSTRACT

A surgical instrument designed especially for plastic surgery includes a first substantially ring-shaped portion and a second operating portion attached to the ring-shaped portion. A finger of the user is inserted into the ring-shaped portion. During surgery, the operating portion is held between the side of the forefinger and thumb with the ring portion serving to stabilize the hold on the instrument. When the surgeon does not require use of the instrument, it may be pivoted about the finger inserted through the ring-shaped portion to a storage position where the operating portion rests in the joint between the thumb and forefinger or against the heel of the palm but without interfering with use of the fingers of the hand for another surgical procedure. The operating portion may be an instrument such as a forceps, retractor, or the like requiring the use of two fingers for manipulation thereof.

i United States Patent 1 Seeling et al.

[ 1 SURGICAL INSTRUMENT FOR PLASTIC SURGERY [76] Inventors: Philip Seeling, 102 Fieldcrest Drive,

North Syracuse, NY. 13212; Burton David Brent, 5 21 S. Home Ave., Oak Park, 111. 60304 [22] Filed: June 10, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 477,653

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 342,747 10/1921 Germany 128/354 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Stille Stainless Steel Retractors, Surgical Equipment Catalog for Apr. 1939.

[ 1 Nov. 4, 1975 Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet Assistant Examinerl-Ienry S. Layton Attorney, Agent, or FirmSilverman & Cass, Ltd.

[57] ABSTRACT A surgical instrument designed especially for plastic surgery includes a first substantially ring-shaped portion and a second operating portion attached to the ring-shaped portion. A finger of the user is inserted into the ring-shaped portion. During surgery, the operating portion is held between the side of the forefinger and thumb with the ring portion serving to stabilize the hold on the instrument. When the surgeon does not require use of the instrument, it may be pivoted about the finger inserted through the ring-shaped portion to a storage position where the operating portion rests in the joint between the thumb and forefinger or against the heel of the palm but without interfering with use of the fingers of the hand for another surgical procedure. The operating portion may be an instrument such as a forceps, retractor, or the like requiring the use of two fingers for manipulation thereof.

7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet 1 of 2 3,916,910

US. Patent NOV.4, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,916,910

SURGICAL INSTRUMENT FOR PLASTIC SURGERY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed towards surgical instruments and more particularly, relates to improvements in surgical instruments which are especially useful for plastic surgery.

Surgical instruments, such as, forceps, skin retractors, or needle-holding forceps repeatedly are employed in most surgical procedures involving plastic surgery. In a suturing procedure, for instance, the needle is grasped by the forceps and inserted into and then drawn out of the skin surrounding the incision, drawing the stitching material through the skin. To use another instrument, the forceps must be handed off or dropped on a stand by the surgeon while he ties a stitch. This process is repeated for each stitch. Disposing of the forceps for each stitching step requires a surgery nurse standby and often, the use of many forceps tools in the single stitching procedure. Of course, if the surgeon should drop the forceps while tying a stitch, it will no longer be sterile and must be replaced with a new sterile forceps. If the forceps has to be put down by the surgeon in order to tie a stitch, this can render the forceps unsterile and can reduce the speed with which the procedure can be performed. In many such procedures, speed is as important as sterility so that any interruption in the procedure, such as by dropping a forceps or putting one down to perform another step, greatly increases the risk associated with the procedure.

Of considerable interest in modern surgical techniques is the use of so-called miniature size instruments useful in operations involving the vascular system, for instance. Due to the size of such instruments and the delicate nature of their use, the invention herein enables certain instruments to be used without their being handed off or dropped while another instrument is used or the surgeons fingers must be freed for another pro cedure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In practicing this invention, a surgical instrument to be held in the hand of a user is provided. The surgical instrument includes a first handle section configured to loosely surround a pivot finger of the user and extend into the palm of the hand. A second operating portion for performing surgical procedures is secured to the first handle section and configured to be held between the thumb and the side of the forefinger. The first portion is configured to stabilize the second handle section while performing the surgical procedures. The instrument is further configured to be pivoted about the pivot finger to a second storage position for the operating portion between usages of the instrument.

In one embodiment, the second operating portion is a forceps. In the second embodiment, the second operating portion is a retractor, such as a skin retractor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of a surgical instrument FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the surgical instrument of FIG. 1 held in a users hand and positioned in a second storage position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the surgical instrument of FIG. 1 held in a users hand and positioned in an alternate second storage position;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the surgical instrument of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the surgical instrument of this invention; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the surgical instrument of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, a forceps l0 embodying the invention is shown. Forceps 10 is manufactured entirely from metal and preferably is stainless steel or some other suitable non-corrosive type metal capable of heat sterilization. Metal is preferred because forceps 10 must be subjected to a high temperature sterilization process. It is to be noted, however, that plastics or other materials which will not deform or corrode under high pressure and temperature may be suitable.

Forceps 10 preferably is formed from a single fiat strip of metal and has a handle section comprising a first substantially S-shaped portion 12 when viewed in profile. S-shaped portion 12 starts at a first top end 14 and continues through an upper S portion 16 and lower S portion 18. Lower S portion 18 terminates at a second end 20. A second portion 22, which is substantially semicircular when viewed in profile, extends from second end 20 to a third end 24 adjacent end 14. In the embodiments shown, first end 14 and third end 24 are welded together so that first portion 12 and second portion 22 form a substantially circular or ring-shaped structure.

An operating portion 26 is attached to the junction of first end 14 and third end 24 and in the embodiment shown, is the forceps. The forceps consists of an upper arm 28 and lower arm 30 which are joined together at one end of each arm and the joined end is connected to the joined ends 14 and 24. Arms 28 and 30 are preferably formed from spring steel and may be pressed together in order to grasp items such as needles. Upper arm 28 has ridges 32 formed thereon against which the users thumb is pressed. Serrations 34 at the second ends of arms 28 and 30 act to more positively hold any items between arms 28 and 30 when they are pressed together. In the forceps shown in FIG. 1, arms 28 and 30 have an L-shaped bend formed therein. This type of forceps is commonly used as and known as a dressing or dissecting forceps.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the handle section, defined or offset to one side of the operating portion 26, is shown being held in a users hand in a position for use of the forceps 10 in a surgical procedure. When being so used, the users second or third finger is inserted through the loop formed by the first portion 12 and the second portion 22 with the handle section in the palm of the hand and the operating portion projecting generally tangentially therefrom. Either the second or third finger may be employed, whichever is more comfortable for the user, and the finger employed will hereinafter be identified as the pivot finger. The outer surface of upper S-shaped portion 16 rests against the side of the users forefinger, and the second portion is positioned in the users palm adjacent his fingers. The

users thumb rests against the ridges 32 in arm 28 of the operating portion 26. With forceps so grasped by the user, he may press arms 28 and 30 together by bringing his thumb and forefinger together for grasping objects such as surgical needles. When forceps 10 is being used to perform a surgical procedure, the handle section defined by the first portion 12 and second portion 22, resting in the palm of the hand, acts to maintain the proper position of forceps 10 within the hand, provides a substantial measure of stability and control to the instrument.

Referring to FIG. 3, forceps 10 is shown in a second storage position for allowing the user to perform surgical procedures which do not require use of forceps 10 while still maintaining control over forceps 10. This second position is with the operating portion 26 resting in the heel of the users palm. To move forceps 10 to the second storage position, the user simply removes his thumb from ridged portion 32 of arm 28, tilts his hand upwards and allows first portion 12 and second portion 22 to pivot about the pivot finger until the op erating portion 26 rests in the heel portion of his palm.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown an alternate second storage position for forceps 10. This second position is in the joint formed between the thumb and forefinger. The pivot finger continues inserted through portion 12 and second portion 22, and the operating portion 26 rests in the joint between the thumb and the forefinger.

Referring now to FIG. 5, another form of forceps 38 is shown. Forceps shown in this and succeeding figures, which have portions that are the same as those in the preceding figures will be given the same identification numbers. Upper arms 28 and lower arm 20 are straight in the embodiment rather than being formed in the shape of an L, as shown in FIG. I. It can be seen that this configuration can be manipulated between the use position and the storage position equally as well as the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 shows another forceps 40 embodying the features of this invention. Forceps 40 is commonly known in the art as a tendon-holding forceps and includes a cup-shaped portion 42 at the end of the upper arm 28 and the cup-shaped portion 44 at the end of lower arm 30. In all other respects, however, this forceps 40 is identical to and operates in a manner identical to forceps l0 and 38.

Another surgical instrument 46 embodying the features of this invention is shown in FIG. 7. The surgical instrument in FIG. 7 has an operating portion 26 including a first arm 48 extending from third end 24 of second portion 22 to a knuckle 50. Two fingers 52 and 54 extend from knuckle 50 and terminate in curved ends 56 and 58, respectively. Surgical instrument 46 is commonly known in the art as a skin hook or retractor. Retractor 46 can be held in the hand and used to perform surgical procedures in a manner identical to that shown in FIG. 2 with the exception that the thumb and forefinger need not be pressed together in order to grasp an object. Retractor 46 is employed to enlarge openings such as are formed by incisions. Retractor 46 may be stored in the second position while held in the 4 hand in the same manner as is shown for forceps 10 in FIGS. 3 and 4.

It is believed that the surgical instrument embodying the features of this invention has been fully shown and described above and should be fully understood without furtherexplanation. It is to be understood that considerable variation and modification of the abovenoted instrument may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What it is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A surgical instrument to be held in the hand of the user comprising,

an elongated hand manipulatable operating portion and an offset handle section at one end of the operating portion, said handle section defined by a strip having a first portion forming substantially an S shape in profile and extending from a first end at the top of the S to a second end, and

a second portion forming substantially a semicircle in profile and extending from said first portion second end to a third end adjacent to, overlying engaging and generally paralleling said first portion first end, said first and second portions defining an opening and adapted to be positioned in the hand with a pivot finger extending through said opening, and

said operating portion extending from said first and third ends generally tangentially to said second portion at said third end and formed to be held between the side of the forefinger and thumb for performing surgical procedures, said handle section being defined to one side of said operating portion for reception within the hand with said instrument adapted to be pivoted about said pivot finger to a storage position in the hand so as to free the fingers and thumb of the user for separate use.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said first, second and operating portions are formed from a single flat strip of metal.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said operating portion is a forceps.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said forceps includes first and second spaced apart arms extending respectively from said first and third ends of said first and second portions.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4 wherein said first and second spaced apart anns are joined together at one of the ends thereof, said first and third ends of said first and second portions are joined together and said first and third joined together ends and first and second joined together arms are connected.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said operating portion is a retractor.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said first portion forming substantially an S shapae in profile has upper and lower open S portions, said upper S portion adapted to be positioned against said forefinger side.

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION O PATENTNO. 3,916,910

DATED November 4, 1975 INV ENTOR(S) I PHILIP SEELING and BURTON DAVID BRENT it is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, lines 53-54, change "portion" to handle section;

Column 3, line 10, before "provides", insert and--;

Q Column 4, line 24, after "overlying insert a Comma Column 4, line 58, change "shapae" to --shape.

Qi Signed and Sealed this seventeenth Day f February 1976 [SEAL] Attest. Q; i i RUTH c. MASON c. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer (ommissimwr ufPalenIs and Trademarks r i i 

1. A surgiCal instrument to be held in the hand of the user comprising, an elongated hand manipulatable operating portion and an offset handle section at one end of the operating portion, said handle section defined by a strip having a first portion forming substantially an S shape in profile and extending from a first end at the top of the S to a second end, and a second portion forming substantially a semicircle in profile and extending from said first portion second end to a third end adjacent to, overlying engaging and generally paralleling said first portion first end, said first and second portions defining an opening and adapted to be positioned in the hand with a pivot finger extending through said opening, and said operating portion extending from said first and third ends generally tangentially to said second portion at said third end and formed to be held between the side of the forefinger and thumb for performing surgical procedures, said handle section being defined to one side of said operating portion for reception within the hand with said instrument adapted to be pivoted about said pivot finger to a storage position in the hand so as to free the fingers and thumb of the user for separate use.
 2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said first, second and operating portions are formed from a single flat strip of metal.
 3. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said operating portion is a forceps.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said forceps includes first and second spaced apart arms extending respectively from said first and third ends of said first and second portions.
 5. The surgical instrument of claim 4 wherein said first and second spaced apart arms are joined together at one of the ends thereof, said first and third ends of said first and second portions are joined together and said first and third joined together ends and first and second joined together arms are connected.
 6. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said operating portion is a retractor.
 7. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said first portion forming substantially an S shapae in profile has upper and lower open S portions, said upper S portion adapted to be positioned against said forefinger side. 